Instrument response effects on the retrieval of oceanic lidar

Area of Science:

• Ocean Optics
• Remote Sensing
• Optical Engineering

Background:

• Oceanic lidar systems are vital for retrieving seawater properties.
• Instrument response functions convolve ideal lidar returns, introducing retrieval errors.
• Understanding these effects is critical for accurate oceanic measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of instrument response on oceanic lidar data.
• To establish guidelines for minimizing retrieval errors in oceanic lidar.
• To improve the accuracy of seawater property and phytoplankton layer thickness retrieval.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of instrument response effects on lidar returns.
• Evaluation of retrieval errors in homogeneous and stratified waters.
• Development of criteria for optimal instrument pulse width.

Main Results:

• Instrument response affects lidar attenuation coefficient retrieval in homogeneous water.
• Optimal pulse width for oceanic lidar is determined to be less than 10^-0.042 ns for <20% error.
• Correcting for instrument response reduces phytoplankton layer thickness retrieval error from 55% to 6%.

Conclusions:

• Instrument response significantly impacts oceanic lidar retrievals.
• Specific pulse width recommendations can mitigate surface layer errors.
• Correction methods and design considerations are essential for accurate oceanic lidar applications.